Insurance has become more expensive in California in recent years, but there's usually room to pay less without giving up the coverage you need. These are the levers that make the biggest difference for auto and home insurance, and how to use them.
Auto insurance
1. Keep, or win back, the Good Driver Discount
California law requires insurers to charge qualifying good drivers (broadly, licensed for at least three years with a clean or nearly clean record) at least 20% less than they would otherwise pay. If a ticket has cost you the discount, it comes back as the violation ages, and traffic school can keep an eligible one-point ticket confidential from insurers.
2. Drive less, and say so
Annual mileage is one of the three main rating factors under Proposition 103. If you've started working from home or changed your commute, tell your insurer. Some carriers also offer low-mileage or usage-based programs.
3. Shop around after tickets, accidents or a DUI
A difficult record raises premiums everywhere, but not equally. Carriers that specialize in high-risk drivers often price the same record very differently from a standard carrier, and if you need an SR-22, the insurer files it with the policy.
4. Young drivers
Experience is a rating factor, so new drivers pay more. Adding a teen to a parent's policy usually costs less than a separate policy, and good-student and driver-training discounts are common.
5. Senior drivers
Many carriers offer a discount for completing a DMV-approved mature driver improvement course, and drivers who've stopped commuting can often save by updating their mileage.
6. Review your coverage
Raising your collision and comprehensive deductibles lowers the premium, as long as you could pay the deductible after a claim. On an older car worth little, it can make sense to drop those coverages. Keep your liability limits, though: they protect your savings and your future income.
Home insurance
1. Bundle, but compare both ways
Most carriers give a multi-policy discount for auto plus home, condo or renters insurance. Get quotes for the bundle and for each policy separately. Our article on bundling car and home insurance explains how.
2. Choose your deductible deliberately
A higher deductible lowers the premium. Pick one you could pay without hardship.
3. Ask about protective devices
Smoke and fire alarms, deadbolts, monitored security systems, and updates to the roof, wiring and plumbing can all lower premiums, depending on the carrier.
4. Insure for the right amount
Your dwelling coverage should reflect what it would cost to rebuild your home at today's construction prices, not its market value. Underinsuring saves a little now and can cost a lot after a loss.
Where a broker helps
Barua Insurance is an independent, licensed California broker. We compare carriers for auto, home and renters insurance, look for the discounts you qualify for, and explain the trade-offs in plain language, in English or Spanish. A driving record doesn't disqualify you. Call (562) 273-3989 or get a free quote, with no obligation.
Updated 8 October 2026: this article no longer quotes example prices or past promotions. What you pay depends on your vehicle, driving record, coverage and ZIP code, and a free quote is the only reliable number.